CARF Preparation Will you be ready for the mandate ?

1. BHealth Management Helping Your Organization Help Others • CARF Preparation • Will you be ready for the mandate?

2. A Few Notes about CARF • CARF is a non-profit entity, incorporated in 1966 to provide accreditation to sheltered workshops for people with developmental disabilities. • It is headquartered in Tucson, AZ

3. What we accredit • Aging Services (including assisted living) • Behavioral Health (mental health and AOD) • Opioid Treatment Programs • Business and Services Management Networks • Child and Youth Services • Employment and Community Services • Vision Rehabilitation • Medical Rehabilitation • DMEPOS (Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies)

4. The CARF family of organizations currently accredits close to 50,000 programs At more than 22,000 locations. More than 8 million persons of all ages are served annually by more than 6,500 CARF-accredited service providers. International, including: Canada Europe South America Africa Singapore Where we accredit

5. Why seek accreditation? • Uhhh, well you are going to have to • I did it and it changed our world • CARF accreditation can help your organization meet the challenges it faces in achieving quality outcomes for the persons you serve. • Specific benefits that CARF accreditation affords a provider include: • Assurance to persons seeking services that a provider has demonstrated conformance to internationally accepted standards. • Improved communication with persons served. Person-focused standards that emphasize an integrated and individualized approach to services and outcomes. • Accountability to funding sources, referral agencies, and the community.

6. Why seek accreditation • Management techniques that are efficient, cost-effective, and based on outcomes and consumer satisfaction. • Evidence to federal, state, provincial, and local governments of commitment to quality of programs and services that receive government funding. • Guidance for responsible management and professional growth of personnel. • A tool for marketing programs and services to consumers, referral sources, and third-party funders. • Support from CARF through consultation, publications, conferences, training opportunities, and newsletters. • A recent study found the following average changes to CARF-accredited programs from before their first survey as compared to their latest survey: • 26 percent increase in persons served annually.37 percent increase in conformance to quality standards.37 percent increase in annual budget dollars.

7. What does it cost? • I have some good news and bad news: • The good news is that our fees are fairly moderate. • Accreditation fees are based on surveyor-days: the more programs/sites you have the more surveyor days you can expect. • The bad news is that the major costs for our accreditation are on the front end in preparation • I’m telling my clients to expect an 18 month process that will require additional work on top of current operations

8. IT IS DOABLE • North Carolina went mandated about 5 years ago • I did a one-person survey of small psychosocial rehab program there that had 8 staff and a $100,000 budget • They got a three-year • BUT……

9. They had a consultant • They can help you with a road map • They can review your policies and procedures • They can provide you with CARF ready templates • They can do mock surveys

10. Interested???? Bhealth Management, LLC In affiliation with Powderhorn Consulting 730 Oella Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043bhealth1@verizon.net or 443-364-8613 (O) 443-386-1667 (C) www.bhealth.net